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It's been a frantic, eventful few months for A.Q. Shipley, so the next few days shouldn't pose a problem.

Not only is he reacquainting himself with Indianapolis and the Colts after they claimed him off waivers from Baltimore, he's looking at the possibility of being their starting center for Sunday's season opener at Denver.

"Yeah, that's kind of what I'm hoping for,'' Shipley said Sunday in a phone interview from Baltimore as he waited for his flight to Indy. "I'm hoping to get in there early (Monday) and get to work on the playbook and put myself in position that if (starting) is what they need me to do and want me to do, I'll be ready."

Projected starter Khaled Holmes hasn't practiced since spraining his left ankle in the Aug. 7 preseason opener against the New York Jets. Rookie backup Jonotthan sprained his right thumb Aug. 23 against New Orleans.

Top draft pick Jack Mewhort started the preseason finale at Cincinnati, but ideally he's back at left guard for the opener.

"Hopefully there's an opportunity for me to come in and compete and ultimately get that starting job,'' Shipley said. "That's why I play the game.

The Colts initially signed Shipley as a free agent in January 2012. He started five games at center when injuries sidelined Samson Satele, then was traded to the Ravens in May 2013.

Although admittedly more comfortable at center, Shipley was used primarily at guard by Baltimore. He started the final nine games of 2013 at left guard.

"If it wasn't meant to be here in Baltimore, I was hoping it would be somewhere,'' Shipley said. "I couldn't be more thrilled that I'm heading back to Indy, a place where I know a lot of the guys.''

Being waived by the Ravens and returning to Indy are the latest sudden changes for Shipley. June 28, he married his college sweetheart. Colts punter Pat McAfee was his best man and several of his former teammates attended the wedding.

"It's definitely been a whirlwind for us, but we've stayed patient,'' Shipley said. "I've always been confident in my ability.''